Building a Future in Common: The French Left with Danièle Obono
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What does it mean to build a political movement rooted in working-class organizing, anti-imperialism, and grassroots activism in a moment of deep instability across Europe?
Co-Hosts Seema Syeda and Nick Dearden discuss this with Danièle Obono, a left-wing deputy in the French National Assembly and member of La France Insoumise.
In 2024, France’s New Popular Front captured the imagination of progressives in Europe, showing that it was possible to form a successful left coalition, even though Macron ultimately kept them out of power. Two years later, left-wing party La France Insoumise is facing unprecedented attempts to marginalise and delegitimise it including, most recently, by attempts to blame the assassination of a young far-right activist on members of the party.
Tune in to explore the political crisis unfolding in France and across Europe: the mainstreaming of the far right, the collapse of the political centre, and the emergence of new left-wing movements attempting to resist authoritarianism, austerity, and fascism.
Obono traces the rise of France’s far-right movement from the era of the National Front to the rebranding of Marine Le Pen’s party and the growing prominence of Jordan Bardella. We discuss how billionaire-controlled media, neoliberal policies, and anti-immigrant rhetoric have helped normalize the far right — and why anti-fascist organizing remains a decisive force in stopping it.
In This Episode
- The role of Palestine solidarity in reshaping political discourse in France
- Why anti-racism and representation matter beyond tokenism
- How social movements and unions have shaped LFI’s political strategy
- The repression of anti-fascist activists and attempts to criminalise the left
- The media hysteria following the death of a far-right activist in Lyon
- Municipal election breakthroughs for the French left despite sustained attacks
- The wider European crisis around war, austerity, militarisation, and democratic legitimacy
Lessons for building internationalist movements from below
Danièle Obono
Website: deputee-obono.fr
Instagram: @deputee_obono
Twitter/X: @Deputee_Obono
TikTok: @bds.movement
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Music(cc): Intro R&B instrumental loop, Mcgrogo (Freesound.org)